Volvo S40 Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Volvo S40? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Volvo S40 — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Good | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2010Best | Good | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2009 | Good | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 2008 | Good | 1 | 11 | 3 | 3 | — | Steering | Full report → |
| 2007 | Caution | 2 | 16 | 5 | 6 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2006 | Caution | 1 | 40 | — | 2 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2005 | Caution | 1 | 45 | 2 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2004 | Caution | 2 | 37 | 4 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2003 | Good | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2002 | Good | — | 23 | 4 | 3 | — | Exterior Lighting | Full report → |
| 2001 | Avoid | — | 64 | 9 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2000Worst | Avoid | — | 89 | 9 | 1 | — | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
12 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Volvo S40 Problems
Based on 348 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
S40 Years to Avoid
Best S40 Years to Buy
Volvo S40 Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Volvo S40 Reliability
What year S40 has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2000 Volvo S40 had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 89 complaints and 0 safety recalls. See the full 2000 report for specific defects.
Is the Volvo S40 reliable?
The Volvo S40 has accumulated 348 owner-filed complaints and 14 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2010 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used S40.
What are the most common S40 problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Service Brakes / Hydraulic (54 reports), Electrical System (51 reports), Engine And Engine Cooling (30 reports), Air Bags (22 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my S40 has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Volvo S40 VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Volvo S40 VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily